Netanyahu claims 'serious concerns' of foreign spending to sway Israeli election

The largest Arab-Israeli bloc on Wednesday denounced "political persecution", after one of its lawmakers was accused of accepting foreign money before last week's national Israeli election, which saw the community turned out in record numbers.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on accusations of foreign interference in the October 27 vote.

"There are serious suspicions that foreign states have spent considerable sums to influence the outcome of the elections in Israel," Netanyahu said in a video, speaking in front of an Israeli flag and the slogan "Prime Minister's Office".

The premier and his far-right allies have gone on the offensive against Arab-Israeli politicians, who could put main opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot in the top seat if they team up.

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"The targeting of Ayman Odeh is political persecution, and we will not allow the Arab public's vote to be delegitimised," the Joint List – a coalition of three Arab-Israeli parties – said in a statement.

"Netanyahu is clinging to power and refusing to acknowledge the will of Arab citizens who voted overwhelmingly against his government," it added.

Odeh, an outgoing lawmaker and former leader of the Joint List, is to be investigated as part of a probe into claims of foreign election interference pushed by Netanyahu's Likud party, several Israeli media reports said.

A veteran of Israeli politics, Odeh used to lead the left-wing party Hadash, which is part of the Joint List.

Netanyahu attacks Arab parties as they emerge as potential kingmakers

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Envelopes of cash

The reports, quoting unnamed officials, said the internal security agency Shin Bet was investigating whether Odeh had received hundreds of thousands of shekels, roughly amounting to $100,000, from an unspecified foreign entity.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara on Tuesday denied a Shin Bet request to interrogate other Arab party leaders without evidence, angering allies of Netanyahu, who have long sparred with her.

Netanyahu pointed to the arrests of several people with envelopes of cash on election day in what authorities called localised incidents.

The premier accused leaders of accepting money from Qatar – an allegation previously levelled against Netanyahu's own aides.

The Central Elections Committee said it had conducted an audit of 9,069 polling stations following complaints, but had found no evidence that would call into question the results' integrity.

Yair Golan, a left-wing leader in the main opposition alliance, accused Netanyahu's camp of abusing its power.

"The police are arresting political activists without court warrants, the Shin Bet is attempting to question senior elected officials without presenting any evidence, while the outgoing government refuses to recognise the election results," Golan said.

He was likely referring to the arrest late Tuesday of Abed Abu Shehadeh, an Arab-Israeli journalist related to politician Sami Abu Shehadeh.

The journalist was being questioned on charges of "contact with a foreign agent", said rights group Adalah, which represents him legally, to AFP.